Arcia misses Tuesday's game for birth of baby boy

By Rhett Bollinger / MLB.com

KANSAS CITY -- The Twins played with 24 players on their roster on Tuesday, as outfielder Oswaldo Arcia missed the game after his wife, Karla, gave birth to a baby boy, Oswell Daniel, early Tuesday morning in Minneapolis.

Arcia was hopeful he wouldn't have to miss Tuesday's game after his wife went into labor on Monday, but she didn't give birth until roughly 3 a.m. So Arcia missed Tuesday's game, but is expected to rejoin the club on Wednesday.

"We aren't doing the paternity leave or anything so he'll be here tomorrow," Twins assistant general manager Rob Antony said. "He just wanted to spend the day with his wife and baby today and will fly here tomorrow."

With Arcia out, Sam Fuld started in right field, while Josh Willingham got the nod in left field. It was Fuld's first start in right field since May 1.

Injured Mauer set to take batting practice in cages

KANSAS CITY -- First baseman Joe Mauer has been making progress with his strained right oblique, and will take batting practice in the cages at Target Field on Wednesday.

Mauer, who has been on the 15-day disabled list since July 2, was originally scheduled to hit on the field on Wednesday, but the Twins have already started to set up the field for Paul McCartney's concert at Target Field on Saturday.

But it's still a positive sign that Mauer is facing live hitting, as his injury is almost completely healed and will start a rehab assignment soon.

"It's all progressing," Twins assistant general manager Rob Antony said. "Now it's taking the next steps and making sure everything feels OK. But he passed all the other things and he feels fine. He's ready to hit live."

Antony said there's no official timetable for Mauer to start a rehab assignment, but indications are it could happen as soon as this weekend or early next week.

"I think we'll play it just step by step," Antony said. "He'll hit live BP probably more than once. Once everyone is comfortable he's ready for game action we'll make plans for that. This is just the next step."

Injured Nolasco throws bullpen with no issues

KANSAS CITY -- Injured right-hander Ricky Nolasco joined the Twins on their road trip through Kansas City and Chicago, and threw a bullpen session without any issues on Tuesday.

Nolasco, who is on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to July 7 with a right elbow strain, is scheduled to throw his next bullpen on Thursday. The right-hander threw only fastballs and changeups in Tuesday's bullpen session.

He's also tentatively scheduled to throw a third bullpen session on Sunday, but he could skip it if all goes well Thursday and he's ready to start a rehab assignment.

"As long as he continues to progress he's getting closer to going on a rehab assignment," Twins assistant general manager Rob Antony said. "He's here with the club. He threw under the watchful eye of [pitching coach] Rick Anderson and everything went well."